Experienced stress among martial arts athletes from selected European Union countries during the 4th wave of the covid-19 pandemic and the frequency of using coping strategies

Background and Study Aims: Materials and Methods: Results: Conclusions: In sports, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected variables such as training, recovery or athletes' sleep quality, uncertainty about the future generating distress and anxiety in athletes. There are two cognitive purpose of the current study: knowledge about the subjectively experienced stress in martial arts athletes from selected Europe Union countries during the 4th wave of the pandemic;and knowledge of the likely of using coping strategies, and if so, with what frequency. Three hundred and forty-one competitive martial arts athletes from Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain were investigated (female n = 129, male n = 212). The athletes represented (according to division of the combat sports under forms of the direct confrontation): workings of weapons (fencing);hits (boxing, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo);throws and grips of immobilisation of opponent's body (Brazilian jiu-jitsu, freestyle wrestling, judo) were investigated. In this paper we analyse workings of weapons and hits as conventional "striking combat sports” SCS (in consequence FSCS or MSCS – for female and male respectively), while throws and grips of immobilization of opponent's body as "grappling combat sports” GCS (FGCS and MGCS respectively). The Perception of Stress Questionnaire was used to measure intrapsychic stress, external stress and emotional tension in athletes, while through the Brief COPE questionnaire the frequency of use of 14 coping strategies was examined. The highest intrapsychic stress levels, during the 4th wave of the pandemic, were registered by Slovak athletes, external stress was the highest among Italian martial arts athletes, while the highest emotional tension levels were reported by Latvian athletes. The lowest values were observed in Lithuanian martial arts athletes, in all three stress dimensions. Also, martial arts athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 reported significantly higher levels of stress and used (during the 4th wave) more frequent denial, behavioural disengagement and less frequent positive reframing (as coping strategies). Gender and type of sport-dependent strategies to deal with stress were discussed: FSCS group used less frequently emotion-focused coping strategies than male athletes from both MSCS and MGCS (apparently a surprising result), and with a higher frequency dysfunctional coping strategies. No important differences were found between the four investigated groups of athletes MGCS, MSCS, FGCS and FSCS) with respect to the problem-focused coping strategies. Martial arts (combat sports) athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 reported significantly higher levels of intrapsychic stress, emotional tension and external stress, compared to athletes which reported that they have not suffered from COVID-19. Denial and behavioural disengagement (as dysfunctional coping strategies) were more frequent among athletes which reported that they were sick with COVID-19, while positive reframing was significantly less used. The research can be of interest for martial arts athletes, coaches, parents and sports psychologists seeking to promote the most effective strategies to deal with negative stress, if the pandemic will have long-term consequences for athletes' mental health and well-being. © ARCHIVES OF BUDO ;HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION.

Aggression in martial arts coaches and sports performance with the COVID-19 pandemic in the background-a dual processing analysis

Background and Study Aims: Considering the dual processing model, human behaviour is guided by implicit and explicit processing. Implicit or automatic processing is essentially a spontaneous processing that occurs in the absence of conscious control. Coaches' aggression can be, therefore, assessed both explicitly and implicitly. The aims of our research were to identify what is specific for successful martial arts coaches, considering aggression and whether implicit aggression is a better predictor of sports performance than explicit aggression. Material and Methods: Sixty-two martial arts coaches took part in the study. For assessing explicit aggression, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Romanian adaptation of the Makarowski's Aggression Questionnaire were used. Implicit aggression was measured through a test derived from the Implicit Associations Test (IAT) for self-concept measurement, using the 20+40 trials subdivision and the classic 7-block version. Results: Coaches with international and national performances associated aggression (measured IAT) with others at a stronger level (M = 0.46 +/- 0.010), compared to novice coaches, at the beginning of their career (M = 0.38 +/- 0.08). The average value for verbal aggression is significantly higher [t(60) = 2.12, p = 0.038] in successful coaches (which obtained a slightly above average score) compared to beginners/ young coaches (below average score). The effect size index (Hedge's g = 0.51) shows a moderate difference between the results (for verbal aggression) of successful coaches and coaches at the beginning of their career. The binomial logistic regressions are statistically significant (p < 0.05;"Omnibus test - Model"). The logistic regression models were statistically significant: VA -chi 2(1) = 4.48, p < 0.05;IAT -chi 2(1) = 10.29, p < 0.005. In the case of martial arts coaches, implicit aggression test is a better predictor of sports performance than explicit (verbal) aggression. Conclusions: In the case of martial arts coaches, implicit aggression represents a better predictor of sport performances than explicit (verbal) aggression. The study results are also increasing awareness regarding the level of manifestation of different factors of aggression in successful coaches, thus preventing violent and unethical behaviours, with negative impact on well-being of young athletes (mainly). The study offers valuable resources for novice martial arts coaches (and not only), sports psychologists and researchers eager to better understand the role of indirect measures in sports performance.

Stress and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among martial arts athletes – A cross-cultural study

Background and Study Aims: Materials and Methods: Success in sports among athletes on a similar level of skill can depend on individual differences in experienced stress and coping strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many areas of life, including sports. The aim of the current study was to verify two hypotheses: (H1) emotional tension, external stress, and intrapsy-chic stress among martial arts athletes will be significantly higher during the height of the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period;(H2) martial arts athletes will less frequently use problem-focused strategies of coping with stress, such as active coping and planning, during the height of the pandemic. The study used the Perception of Stress Questionnaire measuring the following dimensions of stress: emotional tension, external stress, and intrapsychic stress. Coping strategies were measured with the Brief COPE questionnaire distinguishing 14 coping strategies. Seven hundred and eighty-one athletes (including 116 martial arts athletes) from Poland, Romania, and Slovakia took part in the study in the pre-pandemic period. During the height of the pandemic, athletes from Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Spain took part in the study (n = 1,032, including 396 martial arts athletes). Results: Conclusions: Higher levels of emotional tension, external stress, and intrapsychic stress were observed among Polish and Romanian martial arts athletes in the pre-pandemic period. Stress levels were higher before the pandemic than during its peak, when the lowest levels of emotional tension and external stress were reported by martial arts athletes in Romania, and the highest – in Lithuania and Spain. On the other hand, the lowest levels of intrapsychic stress were reported by martial arts athletes in Poland, and the highest – in Lithuania. Key gen-der-dependent strategies of coping with stress were identified. Male and female martial arts athletes used denial, focus on and venting of emotions, substance use, and acceptance. Additionally, men used self-blame and women used behavioural disengagement. The effects of the pandemic do not involve an increase in subjectively perceived psychological stress among martial arts athletes from countries variously affected by the pandemic. The use of maladaptive coping strategies – denial, substance use, venting negative emotion etc. – allows for lowering the subjectively experienced stress (the emotional tension, external stress and intrapsychic stress) of martial arts athletes. It was the use of these strategies which facilitated lower stress levels. The second hypothesis, that martial arts athletes will less frequently use problem-focused strategies of coping with stress, such as active coping and planning, during the height of the pandemic, was confirmed. © 2020, the Authors. Published by Archives of Budo.